Bushfire prompts camp evacuation

A BUSHFIRE is burning on an island off the southeast Queensland coast, sparking the evacuation of campers.

The fire was detected about 2pm on Wednesday north of the town of Cowan Cowan, on the western side of the popular tourist destination Moreton Island, 40km off the Queensland coast.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) operations manager Andrew Hoffman said the blaze was burning in swampland in a southerly direction, and campers in the area had been evacuated as a precaution.

Cowan Cowan was considered secure, he said.

"We don't know the exact cause yet but reports indicate it started from a vehicle fire," Mr Hoffman said in a statement.